Payment upfront or payment at the end

[Excalibur]

I wouldn't expect my clients to carry £50+ in cash around with them anyway.

Doesn't seem to be a problem for my customers.

[funkymook]

Doesn't seem to be a problem for my customers.

All in coppers no doubt!

[DJRecardo]

Generally I get paid at the beginning or during the event, Weddings and suchlike I take a deposit when its booked and then get the remainder of the fee on the night

[funkymook]

I really can't understand the payment on the night for weddings - do any of the other service providers (flowers, cake, venue, catering, photographer etc) get paid then as well? I can't ever recall seeing a line of people queuing up to get their money at a wedding - it's just the DJ then!

I think this cash in hand practice helps perpetuate the public perception we are a second rate service compared to the others.

[DJRecardo]

I have seen photographers get paid on the night. Ideally I'd prefer payment for a wedding etc beforehand but as I used to work for an agency everything was paid by the client either during or after the event no matter whether it was a kids party or a wedding

[Daryll]

Deposit before the event, as keeping with my T&C , payment must be paid before the event , but ..... on the night is ok with me.


Daryll

[mark@pegasus]

7 day before the gig.

Nothing to do with trust, more to do with the running of my business efficiently and being more convenient for the client. Most pay by bank transfer or card these days.

+1

[Leicester Ben]

Payment before the event also for us, any kit hired is also always paid for in full along with a deposit.

[Steve the DJ]

I think this cash in hand practice helps perpetuate the public perception we are a second rate service compared to the others.

+1

The only two reasons I can think of for any supplier to receive cash on the night from a private client is 1) on a really last minute booking (i.e. the same day) or 2) because they are a cash in hand, no questions asked, don't tell the tax man business.

Of course everyone getting cash on the night is sending the client an invoice and a receipt aren't they?





P.S. In answer to the question, 14 days prior to the event.

[Spirits High]

All bookings are due 14 days before.

99.9% of my work is Weddings and in many cases the venue asks for full payment 2-3 months before so mine at 14 days is nothing unusual.

I changed to 14 days around 3 years ago now after the Best Man at a Wedding was given the cash to pay me, got a little bit worse for wear and it came to light at the end of the night when the Groom asked if I'd been paid that the Best Man had been buying lots of rounds of drinks......with my cash

The father of the bride ended up going to a cash machine while I was packing down to get my money!! Since then it's been 14 days and never had a client question it